Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-10-19
THE CARRIAGE BUILDERS.
Many Subjects Considered at the Con-
venttOn To-day.

VemtlOm Il OsOdys
TIE TECHNICAL sCHooLs-oNR STANDARD WIDTH OF
TRACK RECoNMENDED-THE THREE ANRRlCA's
CELEBRATION NDoRsRD-PRoPosRD BUREAU OF
sTATIsTICa
The members Of the Carriage Builders National
Association were slow in getting together this
morning. President Studebaker, a stenographer
and STAR reporter alone occupied Wiard's Hall
at 10 O'Clock the hour to which the convention ad-
Journed Tuesday. The members Of the association
were enjoying themselves in the lobby OF the
hotel When few OF the members had assembled
President Studebaker sent some of them back to
the lobby OF the hotel "to stir up the patriotism OF
the members and have them come up and attend
to the business they met for. l take comfort" he
added, ''from the statement made by the reporter
here that all conventions do this way, and the
members do not come in until after the hour of
the meeting" The committee sent down stairs
members, having had their patriotism ''stirred
up," began to stream into the hall
A REPRIMAND.
When President Studebaker called the meeting
to order, about half-p past 10, he reprimanded the
association little for its hardness, and suggested
that he thought they had more interest in the
annual dinner than in the business before the
convention He urged them to attend the meet
1ngS promptly.
An invitation from photographer to have the
members assemble and have a group photograph
taken was read. One of the members wanted to
Know II the police authorities had requested 1t.
ELECTION OF OFFICERS.
Mr.. Atwood OF the committee to nominate Of
flcers, reported the following nominations: For
president, Hugh johnson, Detroit, Mich. For sec
retary and treasurer Henry c. McLear, Whining
ton, Del. For vice presidents (senior), c. D. Fire
York; Henry Timken, st. Louis; E. N. Hailoweli,
st. Paul; Geo. w. Joyce, Washington; X. MulhOl-
land Dunkirk, Y; g. II; Babock, Watertown, n.
philadelphia; JAS. Hume, Amesbury, Mass; Jos.
Colyer Newark, N. j.; A. A. Abbott, Chicago; s.
a. Clark, Cincinnati. Executive committee Qor
Burrows, Cincinnati; +. A. Babcock, Amesbury,
Mass; QOr uneXpired term), ". 4. HaydOck, st.
Louis; NJ. F. Lane, Philadelphia
The secretary, Mr. Hooker, was instructed by
vote, to cast the ballot Of the association for the
officers nominated. Mr. Hooker performed this
The president-elect, Mr. johnson, was escorted
TO the stand by Messrs Emerson and McLear and
took a seat beside President Studebaker.
THE TECHNICAL SCHOOL
The report OF the committee on technical educa-
tion was laid over until tomorrow morning and
put first on the order Of business for tomorrow.
The report says that the committee felt that
the school for carriage draughtsmen and mechan-
les carried on in New York under the auspices Of
the association has now safely passed through
the experimental and preparatory period, that iJ
is already nlling to a considerable extent the de-
sign OF its originator5, and that the association
results from its educational Influence.
during the last season thirty pupils were en-
rolled In the evening classes and one hundred and
forty In the corresponding classes Twenty five
OF the former pupils OF the school have been pro-
NOTED to positions OF foremen, draughtsmen, or
super1ntendents, or have become proprietOrs or
members OF firms engaged In carriage building.
There are now twenty-three evening pupils and
sixtythree corresponding pupils on the roll. The
prize offers, aggregating $3.50 :or essays on "How
to plan, furnish and stock modern carriage
factory" The report says the aim OF the trade
school is not oenevolence. Helping the young men
Is only secondary object. It's design is to pro-
duce more competent mechanics.
In conclusion the committee said: "In spite of
some discouraging conditions that now surround
the carriage trade in tnis country, Including the
lack OF any system OF apprenticeship or regular
societies In lending their aid to supply the thin
ming ranks OF experienced mechanics and pulling
new conditions OF trade that arise from The con-
slant Introduction OF new and improved machin-
cry, which places experienced labor more and
more at discount, We look upon your Trade
School ana all similar schools ami educational in
nuences as hopeful signs that some practicable
substitute for the Old-fashOned apprenticeship
may yet be discovered and generally Introduced;
that bosses societies and wOrkmen's societies, in
seeking ends that are truly for their own best
Interests may attain result, that are equally for
tie best interests OF all parties concerned and that
by such combined agencies the carriage trade OF
this country may be enabled not only to hold its
present position but TO advance year by year with
lengtnening strides"
accessory trades having no report TO make at
present, the committee was continued for another
year.
AWARDS OF PRIZES.
The committee on award OF prizes appointed
yesterday reported the following as the award Of
the prizes offered for specimens OF work by em.
ployes OF carriage manufacturers:
For best buggy gearing, made OF ironwoOd, $50
to Thos. Holiinger, CanastOta, N. Y For best hand
painted commentaries to Jno, Shuster OF New
Hav n, Conn.,; second to L. F. Thomas; third, A.
&. Flanders OF Merrmac. Mass; fourth, to Herman
DurhOh. For best three panels, j. c. Scott, OF
In allegiance because twas stated that Mr. Thomas
was not an emplOye, but e member OF the assoct
alton, which was contrary 10 the conditions OF the
offers
The committee expressed regret that there were
exhibits offered In but four Of the thirteen classes
in which prizes were offered. There was general
discussion as TO why there was not more Interest
taken In the competition by the wOrkmen. Some
OF the members suggested that the wOrkmen should
be given time and material by their employ ers
President StudeDaker offered an additional prize
OF $50, which was accepted. Various suggestions
in the report OF the committee were referred to the
executive committee
CARRIAGE TRACKS.
The committee appointed yesterday in regard to
the suggestion by the executive committee con.
cerning carriage tracks, reported that 1t had found
a great variety Of widths OF track in the country
The committee, while feeling that one track would
facturers will more readily come to uniform prac.
tce with two standards Of track, and the commit
tee therefore earnestly recommend the adoption OF
a track Of feet 8 inches and q track OF feet
inches as the standards, and that the members OF
the association agree not to build on any other
standard
Mr. Haydock urged that there should be but one
track adopted, as that was enough for this cOun-
try. He moved the adoption OF the feet inches
Another member thought they would have to
make carriages to meet the wishes Of their custo-
mers.
Another said that in the South years ago the
and they had had to make their carriages to ut
those rutS.
President Studebaker said, in answer to a oues-
tion by Mr.. Haydock. that 1t would be difficult to
change the standard Of tracks Of wagons at once,
but II might be done gradually. The dif1iculty
lay In the fact that the wagons already In exist
ence and the established ruts in the roads could
not be wiped out at once. In the discussion, too
OF the desirabiity OF having one or two standard
tracks, the fact OF the tendency OF street-ra1lway
companies to adopt feet inches as a standard
track, was brought forward in favor Of the feet
standard Mr.. FireStOne suggested that the
standard for buggies and light vehicles be made
feet inches and for coaches and wide vehicles S
some States laws had been passed respecting the
width or tires, and he thought that laws might be
secured On this subject. A uniformity in this
matter would be good thing for the public roads
stand irds proposed covered nine -tenths OF the
necessities OF the trade.
After some discussion Mr. McLear offered, as q
substitute FOR the report OF the committee, resolu
the variety Of tracks now In use and the fact that
the street railways are gradually reducing 70 one
standard OF 4 feet 81 Inches, and declaring that
tIAS ASSOCIATION approves the present movement TO-
| feet inches as the standard OF light carriages
Mr.. Duny said that II there was anything